Heavy rain likely in several J&K parts on Sept 2
JAMMU, Aug 31: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal rainfall in September, raising concerns over flash floods and landslides in several parts of the country, especially in the Himalayan states including Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, light to moderate rain is likely across most areas of J&K on September 2, with very heavy to extremely heavy showers predicted over Kathua, Doda, Udhampur and Reasi. Jammu, Samba, Ramban, Rajouri and Kishtwar are also expected to receive heavy rain, while south Kashmir and Poonch may witness moderate to heavy spells. Authorities have urged residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra cautioned that September rains may disrupt normal life in J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where landslides and flash floods are frequent. He said delayed withdrawal of the monsoon — now pushed from September 1 to September 17 — increases the interaction between monsoon systems and western disturbances, making September more volatile for the western Himalayas.
Data shows that northwest India, including J&K, has already experienced an exceptional monsoon. Between June 1 and August 31, the region recorded 614.2 mm rainfall, about 27 per cent above normal. August alone brought 265 mm, the highest for the month since 2001. The heavy downpours triggered incidents in Kishtwar and Jammu, besides widespread destruction in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
This season, J&K has faced multiple instances of flash floods, overflowing streams and road blockages, particularly along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The administration has repeatedly pressed disaster response teams into service to clear landslides and rescue stranded people.
While the IMD has not confirmed an overall rise in cloudburst incidents, research indicates a growing trend in “mini cloudbursts” — rainfall exceeding 5 cm within an hour — in Himalayan terrain. Experts warn that such sudden events pose serious risks to J&K’s fragile mountain ecosystem and densely populated valleys.
Nationwide, India has already received 743.1 mm rainfall between June and August, about six per cent above the long-period average. With September likely to remain wetter than normal, the IMD has asked states and disaster management agencies to step up preparedness.
For J&K, where weather extremes have increasingly disrupted normal life, officials say the next two weeks will be crucial in managing the risk of flash floods, landslides and crop damage.
